Formal Commands: Usted/Ustedes

When you need to give polite or respectful orders in Spanish, you use formal commands. These are for people you would address as usted (you, formal singular) or ustedes (you, formal plural).

The Main Rule: The 'Opposite Vowel' Trick

Forming regular formal commands is a simple, three-step process:

1. Start with the yo form of the verb in the present tense.

   • hablar -> hablo
   • comer -> como
   • vivir -> vivo

2. Drop the -o ending.

   • habl-
   • com-
   • viv-

3. Add the 'opposite' vowel ending.

   • For -ar verbs, add -e for usted and -en for ustedes.
     • hable (you speak)
     • hablen (you all speak)
   • For -er and -ir verbs, add -a for usted and -an for ustedes.
     • coma / coman (you eat / you all eat)
     • viva / vivan (you live / you all live)

To make a command negative, just add no before the verb. The verb form stays exactly the same!

• No hable.
• No coman.

Heads Up: Irregular Verbs You Might See

Like in English, some of the most common verbs are irregular. You might see these in stories. Don't worry about memorizing them now, but it's good to be aware of them:

• ser -> sea / sean
• ir -> vaya / vayan
• dar -> dé / den

This drill will focus only on the main rule to build your confidence!